May 22, 2009 - Bond series producer Michael G. Wilson told the press in April that there had been no significant work done on the next James Bond film. What a difference a month makes.

CommanderBond.net points out that Wilson attended the Ivor Novello Awards in London this week where he spoke to British tabloid The Sun about the status of Bond 23. "We have started work on the new film, which I can't say anything about. Daniel Craig is very keen to get going," the producer said.

Wilson also revealed who he'd like to have sing the theme song to the next sequel. "I would love to get [Welsh singer] Duffy to sing the next tune. I think she is wonderful. Amy Winehouse would be good too."

In an interview with IGN Movies last fall, Wilson revealed that the next Bond film would likely come out in 2011.

Two crappy choices to sing the tune so far. If Winehouse is singing it, then I demand the silhouttes stumble around drunk in the opening credits.

Casino Royale was gold. It was just Quantum of Shite that was disappointing, don't think we can really put it up to Craig either. I'd say the horrendous camera work and the plotless plot were some of the bigger factors.

Still, I like Craig and I look forward to what they're gunna do. Bond fan regardless.

Quantum of Solace wasn't really that good, although I suppose after Casino Royale there was bound to be some pressure on it to be just as good. QoS just seemed like one big 'meh'. This Maddox article has it nearly spot on.

From Blair to BlofeldStar of The Queen to play Bond baddie?by Chris Tilly, IGN UK

UK, June 16, 2009 - File this one under 'spurious rumour' for now, but if British tabloid The Daily Express is to be believed, Michael Sheen is in line to play a legendary villain in the next Bond film.

According to the rag, the Welsh-born actor will follow in the footsteps of Donald Pleasance, Telly Savalas and Charles Gray by playing Ernst Stavros Blofeld in the as-yet-untitled flick.

The paper's Bond mole claims "Michael is hot property right now and it's felt he's the man to bring Blofeld back to life. Michael was a Bond fan in his youth, so this would be a dream role."

With Peter Morgan - who scripted previous Sheen projects The Queen and Frost/Nixon - boarding the project as a screenwriter, the decision would make sense, although as the Express is hardly known for breaking movie stories, we'll take this with a pinch of salt for now.

I guess I'm in the minority here, but I enjoyed Quantum of Solace almost as much as Casino Royale. Yes, the action was dodgy and the set pieces weren't nearly as awesome as the construction site chase in the first film, but I thought the decision to have a wealthy philanthropist as the main villain and have water-not oil-be the resource he is lusting after made the film at least a little bit provocative. They probably could have done a lot better incorporating Leiter into the film more (I heard his part was cut significantly), but all in all it was a really good Bond film and kept me interested in the series.

I didn't see QoS, but I did see Casino Royale, and that being my first Bond movie I've sat down and watched all the way through I say that I enjoy this series, and I hope to see QoS sometime and this next film too.